TP-LINK Hangzhou R&D Center / SZA

TP-LINK Hangzhou R&D Center / SZA - Exterior Photography, FacadeTP-LINK Hangzhou R&D Center / SZA - Exterior Photography, FacadeTP-LINK Hangzhou R&D Center / SZA - Interior Photography, StairsTP-LINK Hangzhou R&D Center / SZA - Interior Photography, GlassTP-LINK Hangzhou R&D Center / SZA - More Images+ 28

  • Architect In Charge: Zhe Wang
  • Design Team: Wei Shi, Ting Su, Runze Wu, Nan Jiang, Tao Ma, Yan Zhang, Huilai Gao, Bingcong Wang
  • LDI: The Architectural Design and Research Institute of Zhejiang University Co.Ltd
  • Curtain Wall Consultant: ALT
  • Interior Design: Kohn Pedersen Fox
  • City: Hangzhou
  • Country: China
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TP-LINK Hangzhou R&D Center / SZA - Exterior Photography, Facade
West facade of main entrance. Image © Weiqi Jin

Text description provided by the architects. When the office has slowly entered the era of mobility as expected 10 years ago, the "router" seems to be a reference to a new type of office facility connecting people and resources. This project is designed for a manufacturer which is specializing in the research,development and manufacturing of network and communication terminal equipment, and also is the world's largest router manufacturer--TP-LINK, as the East China R&D Center.

TP-LINK Hangzhou R&D Center / SZA - Exterior Photography, Facade
View from main entry. Image © Weiqi Jin
TP-LINK Hangzhou R&D Center / SZA - Exterior Photography, Facade
West facade of main entrance at night. Image © Weiqi Jin

The project is located in the high tech zone of Hangzhou Binjiang district. It’s surrounded by high-tech enterprise R&D parks, and the regional arterial road is located on the west side of the site. The above-ground building area is about 26,700㎡.

As an R&D office building for enterprise’ own use, its building form can be quite different from that of general office buildings. The building space organization is customized design according to the requirements of the enterprise, and usually more shared spaces are accomodated. At the same time, the architecture will also be used as a carrier of corporate social image and value in a sense.

TP-LINK Hangzhou R&D Center / SZA - Exterior Photography
Aerial view . Image © Weiqi Jin
TP-LINK Hangzhou R&D Center / SZA - Interior Photography, Facade, Glass
Aerial view of common spaces: from atrium interior to roof garden. Image © Weiqi Jin

After many rounds of discussions with the owners, the final design is a clear spatial model: the R&D function as two externally invisible "black boxes" utilizing the north and south daylighting, and the common space between the two black boxes are shared by all departments. The shared function blocks include conferences, restaurants, lecture halls, etc.; and the top surface of each function block becomes an shared platform without definite assinged function. Via vertial traffic connections between each two platforms , the common spaces continue from from inside atrium to outside roofgardern of south slab.

TP-LINK Hangzhou R&D Center / SZA - Image 24 of 33
analysis diagram

The logic of architectural space is clearly ariticulated from the view of the west main facade. The common spaces in the atrium that are not strictly assigned with specific functions actually become the core of the architectual space and function as the engine driving the connection between varied uses.

TP-LINK Hangzhou R&D Center / SZA - Exterior Photography, Facade
View from northeast. Image © Weiqi Jin

According to the requirements of users, the slab buildings (black boxes) on the north and south side are designed with a depth of 22 meters .The core and vertical connection are located at the east and west ends of the slab building, to block the undesirable low-angle light. The shared space between the two slabs is 30 meter wide, with height ranging from 4 to 20 meter, and the space transition to an outdoor roof terrace at the 6th floor.

TP-LINK Hangzhou R&D Center / SZA - Exterior Photography, Facade
Daytime view of west facade. Image © Weiqi Jin

The atrium curtain wall is composed of suspended- cable structure and ultra-white laminated glass to achive a more transparent appearance. The north and south slab buildings apply with higher reflectivity Low-E insulated glass and the are designed in a way of vertical aluminum panels combined with operable windows inbetween. The curtain walll design is utilizing different wall types to emphasize the logic of the space organization.

TP-LINK Hangzhou R&D Center / SZA - Interior Photography, Stairs
Atrium space as the core of the building and the driving engine . Image © Weiqi Jin
TP-LINK Hangzhou R&D Center / SZA - Interior Photography, Glass
View from atrium to outside. Image © Weiqi Jin

Locating the core outside firstly allows the open office space to be more efficient and flexible. The massing of the cores , along with the glass curtain wall and atrium space confidently express the internal relationship of the building. The cores are enclosed with dark gray stones, which apply with subtle texture variations to achive a richer visual effect for the large area of solid wall.

TP-LINK Hangzhou R&D Center / SZA - Interior Photography, Glass
Close view of two types of curtain wall. Image © Weiqi Jin

Among the future employees in the R&D center, young people under 30 will account for 90%. As an IT enterprise which established in 2000, TP-Link is not only different from traditional electrical brands , but also different from software and internet companies emerging in recent years. Its interior space needs to provide comfortable, efficient and confident working environtment and communication places for employees.

TP-LINK Hangzhou R&D Center / SZA - Interior Photography, Kitchen, Facade, Glass
Interior view of atrium looking to office space. Image © Weiqi Jin
TP-LINK Hangzhou R&D Center / SZA - Interior Photography, Glass
Conference area. Image © Weiqi Jin

If each building is regarded as a terminal of the city, we hope to design this terminal which can not only accommodate, but also stimulate and instruct people's creative behavior. This is also the mission of the enterprise carried by this R&D building.

TP-LINK Hangzhou R&D Center / SZA - Exterior Photography, Facade, Glass
View of looking up at corner of slab tower. Image © Weiqi Jin

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Project location

Address:Jiang Er road and Ju Cai road, High-Tech District(Bin Jiang Zone), Hangzhou, China

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Location to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.
About this office
Cite: "TP-LINK Hangzhou R&D Center / SZA" 01 Aug 2020. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/944608/tp-link-hangzhou-r-and-d-center-sza> ISSN 0719-8884

© Weiqi Jin

普联(TP-LINK)杭州研发中心 / 盛哲建筑

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